NuvaRing: Experiences and reviews?

neontinker23 said:I had issues with pills—inflammation tendencies, doses that were too low, and my libido hit rock bottom—so I'm stopping them. Now I'm wondering if I'd run into those same problems with the ring? :/

You can definitely find it at any local pharmacy since my gynecologist recommended it... though I have no idea what the price tag looks like...

It costs about $50.

Regarding side effects, it is entirely subjective; what works perfectly for one person might be a disaster for another. It all comes down to how the statistics fall on your side. Some side effects are linked to the estrogen component, which remains consistent across most pills except for the dosage, while others are tied to the progestin, which varies significantly from one brand to the next. Since I don't know which specific component caused your issues😢 I would conclude that if you have tried multiple different brands with various progestins (the part listed alongside the ethinyl estradiol), there is a high probability you will face the same issues regardless of the pill or the ring. Unfortunately, mini-pills (those containing only progestin) aren't available here in the US.

Rachel Myers14 said:Look, I am certainly no medical expert, so I won't pretend to be making a diagnosis. Of course, there is a risk of thrombosis. However, both my OBGYNs—my private doctor and the one at the clinic—told me that monitoring my blood work isn't even necessary while using this, unlike with the pill, since my initial labs were perfect. That said, I still went in for testing because I tend to overthink things. 😁

A little extra weight never hurt anyone. I also constantly request tests even though my gynecologist insists they aren't required; she claims the thrombosis risk is highest in the first year, yet I have been on birth control—specifically the ring—for nearly seven years without a break. But as stated previously, these are merely statistics. This is why my primary care physician always provides a referral and expresses disbelief at how irresponsible some gynecologists can be.😉))

Kimberly Robinson80 said:It’s about $50.

As for side effects, it’s always different for everyone. Something works wonders for one person and completely wipes out another. It just depends on which way the statistics swing for you. Some side effects come from the estrogen component—which stays pretty much the same in all pills, just the dosage changes—while others are tied to the progestin, which varies wildly from pill to pill. I don't know which specific component is causing your issues😢 but I'm guessing if you've tried several different pills with various progestins (the part listed alongside the ethinyl estradiol), you might run into the same wall with the patch too. Unfortunately, we don't really have mini-pills (progestin-only pills) available here in the US)

I was only on Yaz for seven months. I don't think it was strong enough because besides my regular period, I always get this week-long bleeding right in the middle of my cycle :/ For the first few months, my OBGYN told me it would level out once my body adjusted, but clearly, it didn't 🙂 I've been dealing with constant infections, vaginal dryness, pain, and zero libido...
That's why I'm scared to switch to something else. If the hormone dose is higher, won't everything just feel even worse?

neontinker23 said:I was only on Yaz for seven months. I don't think the dose is sufficient because, besides my regular period, I always experience mid-cycle bleeding that lasts for an entire week. :/ My OB-GYN told me during the first few months that things would stabilize once my body adjusted, but clearly, they haven't. 🙂 I have dealt with constant inflammation, vaginal dryness, pain, and absolutely zero libido...
Because of this, I am hesitant to switch to a different pill; if the hormone dosage is higher, I fear my symptoms will only intensify. :/

Regarding mid-cycle bleeding, it is directly linked to the estrogen levels in the pill. Generally, a higher estrogen content reduces the likelihood of spotting because estrogen stabilizes the uterine lining. This should typically subside after a few cycles (two, three, or four). When I used Celestrol—which was my first pack a long time ago—I only experienced slight spotting during the first month. Modern pills contain lower doses than older formulations because estrogen is linked to thrombosis risks, so they likely reduce it intentionally, which leads to more frequent spotting. As for your other side effects, I cannot say for certain, though you might find less dryness; estrogen is actually prescribed topically for menopause due to dryness, yet here you are dealing with it for three weeks. Personally, my discharge is slightly heavier than it was on the pill, and those issues are explicitly listed as side effects, including the decreased libido you suffered from while on Yaz.

My OBGYN actually suggested the ring because of vaginal dryness. Or maybe switching pills since I'm dealing with breakthrough bleeding...

Can you just stop taking birth control for a few months and then potentially switch to the ring later on if I decide to go that route? I'm planning on finding a new doctor and getting all my tests and swabs done, but I really don't want to keep grinding through these pills just to deal with all these side effects...

neontinker23 said:That’s why my OBGYN recommended the patch, because of vaginal dryness. Or maybe switching pills due to the bleeding...

Is it possible to stop taking birth control pills for a few months and then potentially switch to the patch later if I decide to? I am planning on changing doctors and getting full exams and swabs done by a new specialist, and I really don't want to deal with more pills and all these side effects until then.

Of course you can stop. Just be mindful of the risk of pregnancy if you are using them for contraception.

Ugh, NuvaRing. My OB-GYN actually suggested it, but honestly? The idea of having something sitting inside me for three weeks straight just doesn't sit right with me. 😲

Grace Jones3 said:Ugh, Nuvaring. Honestly, my OB-GYN actually suggested that to me once, but I don't know—the whole idea of just having something sitting inside me for three weeks straight? It just doesn't sit right with me. 😲

Same here. And honestly, if I'm being totally real, the thought of actually having to put it in—or worse, taking it out—makes me want to hide under my covers.

Kate Moore21 said:I feel the same way, and it’s even worse when I consider how difficult it would be to insert or remove it.

To each their own. Some women struggle even with basic menstrual products, whereas I found total relief once I switched over and now I can't live without them. However, I shared those same anxieties regarding the ring—specifically the logistics of removal and whether things might go wrong. Regarding infections, there is likely a negligible risk of anything accumulating on the ring since silicone is an inert material that shouldn't support bacterial growth. At least, that is my understanding.🙂

I mean, they wouldn't be selling it if it were some kind of biohazard, right? 😁 It’s gotta pass all those rigorous inspections and tests first.

neontinker23 said:They wouldn't be considering selling it if it weren't a complete dump. 😁 It must undergo rigorous inspections and exhaustive testing.

That’s highly unlikely. 🙂

It’s actually quite lovely to be able to read through everyone's initial experiences regarding the ring 😉
I highly doubt anyone would market something that’s essentially a breeding ground for bacteria 🤣 but there is one thing I’m struggling to wrap my head around—someone mentioned that you can actually take the ring out for a little while and then put it back in? Honestly, that sounds like a recipe for disaster because once the ring is out, it isn't sterile anymore, and you obviously can't just boil it or soak it in alcohol whenever you feel like it.... 😬 😂 I know it probably sounds a bit silly to say, but I mean it... it never even crossed my mind to take it out for a few hours just to pop it back in later, unless I happened to have some sort of sterile container handy to keep it in... 🤔

So, this girl was telling me that if my ring ever happens to fall out, I should just rinse it off under some water and pop it back in within three hours. 🤷

Edit: Just to be clear—I’m not actually wearing it, she was just giving me her "expert" advice while she was trying to talk me into taking it. 🙂

This ring sounds like a perfect fit for me. I’ve always hated swallowing pills, and I have a real weakness for trying out the latest tech and modern gadgets 😉 As soon as I give birth and finish breastfeeding, I'm definitely looking into this. Honestly, I've used contraceptive patches before and they were fantastic—no strain on the liver, steady hormone release, and you don't have to worry about them being ineffective if you happen to deal with any nausea or stomach issues.

Grace Jones3 said:My jeweler mentioned that if my ring ever happens to fall out of its setting, I should simply wash it under some water and have it reset within three hours. 🤷

To clarify, I don't actually use it myself; she was just walking me through how it works while she was offering it to me. 🙂

Well, if things actually go wrong... though I honestly can't wrap my head around how that would even happen, given that we aren't exactly dealing with a ten-centimeter opening where things like rings or tampons could just slip right out, but I suppose anything is possible.
I suppose what I mean is that someone might simply take him out and "set him aside" somewhere for a few minutes or hours while they focus on having sex. 🤣 That doesn't sound particularly appealing to me. 👎🤷

Carol Scott98 said:Fine, suppose it happens... though I honestly don't see how that's even possible since it's not like an opening is 4 inches wide where things (like a ring or a tampon) would just spontaneously fall out, but whatever...
But having someone manually remove it and "stow it away" for a few minutes or hours during sex 🤣 doesn't sound particularly appealing 👎🤷

It can be removed, but there is no practical reason to do so. Perhaps some men might find it inconvenient, in which case it could be taken out during intercourse; the instructions state you simply rinse it under cold water and reinsert it. It can also stay out for up to three hours without losing its effectiveness. There is no logical point in targeting its removal just to let it "breathe." I do not remove mine at all until the full three weeks are up.

So, Gin told me her girlfriends were saying guys are absolutely obsessed with it—apparently, it’s supposed to be a total game-changer in the bedroom. 😬

Grace Jones3 said:So, Gin mentioned to me that her girlfriends were all raving about it—apparently, they're telling her that guys are absolutely loving it and that it’s supposedly a total game-changer in the bedroom. 😬

🤣 Some burnt-out mess from Cincinnati. 😁 My partner didn't really say much to complain about, though I suppose there isn't exactly a reason to be celebrating either. 😁

Carol Scott98 said:Alright, let's say it actually happens... though I honestly can't wrap my head around how that would even work. It’s not like we're dealing with a ten-centimeter opening where things like a ring or a tampon could just slip right out without any resistance, but I guess anything is possible.
I mean, no—it's more like having someone just step out and "tuck him away" somewhere else for a few minutes or an hour while the sex is actually happening. 🤣 It doesn't exactly sound that appealing, I guess. 👎🤷

It’s possible it could slip out; he’s on the smaller side, and honestly, it actually happened to me once during my first time with him. I suppose I have no idea how he even managed to slip out like that, especially since it hasn't really happened again. 🤷 As for actually having it removed, I honestly don't see much point in bothering. It’s so subtle that you pretty much forget it's even there after a while.

Hmm... It’s actually a pretty sleek little thing, isn't it? Honestly, I could see myself starting to use this instead of condoms. How does one even go about picking this up? Do you need a prescription from your doctor first?

Yeah, it’s prescription-only, and you really ought to have a serious talk with your doctor if you’re thinking about going down that road. You’ll definitely need to get some blood work done first, regardless. 🙂